LANTHANIDE-ION MODIFIED CYCLODEXTRIN SUPRAMOLECULES

A cyclodextrin appended with a lanthanide-ion macrocycle comprises a m icroscopic bucket that lights up when filled with mono- and bicyclic a romatics. This triggered luminescence response arises from an absorpti on-energy transfer-emission (AETE) process where blue light, absorbed by the aromatic, is transferred to the lanthanide ion to produce the e mitting D-5(0) excited state of Eu3+ or the D-5(4) excited state of Tb 3+ ion. Three supramolecule systems are presented, focusing on the des ign features that lead to the best luminescence response. (C) 1998 Els evier Science S.A.